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We all speak English but we don't all speak the same language

(35 Posts)
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vampirequeen Mon 16-Mar-20 13:34:55

I have a friend in South Africa and most of the time we understand each other. Then one of us (usually me) will say something that means absolutely nothing to the other. I was recently talking about having had a picnic in the car. She was flummoxed by this. To her a picnic is eaten whilst sitting on the grass or beach with the sun beating down. She couldn't imagine why we'd picnic in the car. So I pointed out that if you tried to sit outside when it's pouring with rain you'd end up with soggy sandwiches. This confused her even more. Why would we go out to picnic in the rain? Well we don't necessarily go out planning to picnic in the rain. In fact it may be lovely and sunny when we leave home but British weather being what it is we never know what it will be like by dinner time. If we waited for guaranteed warm sunny days we'd hardly ever go out grin

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GabriellaG54 Mon 16-Mar-20 23:58:55

Yes. We did Callistemon and yes, the crude word is bad taste...no pun intended.

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Callistemon Mon 16-Mar-20 23:59:51

Oh, what a good thing I don't use it regularly now.
Although I might have done!

It means courageous, determined. Full of spunk - adventurous etc.

I do dislike it when words get taken over by modernists who change the meanings

#oldfuddyduddy

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GabriellaG54 Tue 17-Mar-20 00:01:50

In the US the skids are the undesirable/ poor areas.
In some parts of the UK it refers to marks in underwear.

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GabriellaG54 Tue 17-Mar-20 00:04:14

Under?wear ??

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MissAdventure Tue 17-Mar-20 00:05:53

Skidmarks.
I'm ashamed to say I can't utter that word without smirking.

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vampirequeen Tue 17-Mar-20 14:13:39

I smirked too lol

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vampirequeen Tue 17-Mar-20 14:14:39

In South Africa, BBQ is a crisp flavour. A BBQ is a braai.

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Urmstongran Tue 17-Mar-20 15:20:28

Last summer out here in Spain I was in the lift. I was joined by a Spanish man. In the quiet of the lift space together I felt the need to break the silence as we descended (note to self ‘keep quiet woman’). I wafted by my face with my hands and said ‘caliente’ meaning it’s hot. He seemed very embarrassed and said nothing. We got out of the lift.

It played on my mind so later I asked a friend if I’d said something wrong? She giggled and said ‘caliente’ would be if you sipped your coffee and wanted to say ‘it’s hot’. The other meaning was ‘sexy’. Oh god, I’d just told a man in the lift I was hot‼️

If it’s about the weather she told me I ought to have said ‘hace color’.

??

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grumppa Tue 17-Mar-20 16:53:41

I think Americans say yardwork for gardening.

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